Dancers are the real stars

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A weekly roundup of the major reality-competition series.

“Dancing With the Stars” (ABC, tonight and Monday) – The “Stars” are not the stars of this show. After 15 highly successful seasons, the dancers are far bigger celebrities than their alleged-star partners – particularly the core group of veteran professionals. This was clear last week, when D.L. Hughley didn't fall into the bottom two despite disastrous scores from the judges. Perhaps that was because he is a more likable on-screen character than Victor Ortiz or Lisa Vanderpump. But much more likely is that his partner is popular two-time champion Cheryl Burke, while the others are paired with newcomers Lindsay Arnold and Gleb Savchenko.

Of course, all three of those bottom-dwelling couples were saved by the medical withdrawal of Olympic figure skating champion Dorothy Hamill. After a good first dance, she and partner Tristan MacManus crashed in the jive, and we soon learned why.

“The Voice” (NBC, tonight and Monday) – Raise your hand if you recognized former “American Idol” finalist Jon Peter Lewis as one half of the duo Midas Whale on last week's auditions. JPL, as we often called him then, finished eighth in Season 3 of “Idol,” won that year by Fantasia Barrino. Jon and partner Ryan Hayes ended up on Adam Levine's team after impressing all of the judges with their inventive version of “Folsom Prison Blues.” Midas Whale is way too quirky to win a middle-of-the-road show like “The Voice,” but I'm glad they're getting a chance. The blind auditions continue this week and next.

“American Idol” (Fox, Wednesday-Thursday) – It looks as though the folks at “American Idol” will be getting their wish this season: a female winner. We're three weeks into the finals and three guys have departed. Lazaro Arbos appears to be hanging by a thread, and despite a terrific voice, it doesn't look like Burnell Taylor has the performing chops or the musical taste to go much further.

The catch for “American Idol”: What the producers and judges wanted may not be what the public wants. The ratings for the season are cratering fast. Sure, that could be just general fatigue or dislike of the new judges, but we must wonder whether a big part of the problem is the slate of finalists. The judges were so set on a girl winning that they refused to admit any interesting guys.

“Survivor” (CBS, Wednesday) – The merger arrives this week, and not a moment too soon. The two tribes were so imbalanced physically that the challenges offered no suspense. The interesting question now is whether the Favorites will reassemble at the merger, or will the powerful orange tribe stick together. The promotional spots show Corinne happily promising a blindside at this week's Tribal Council. If I were Corinne, I would be more worried than pleased.

“Project Runway” (Lifetime, Thursday) – Just when you thought we were done with Richard Hallmarq, last week's ejectee will be back this week, helping some member of the final five try to get to Fashion Week. The surviving designers will at last be on their own, but each will be paired with an eliminated competitor. It sounds like a fun twist, but can anyone other than Patricia possibly go home?

“The Amazing Race” (CBS, Sunday) – The harsh truth about the race is that you're only as strong as your last mistake. Southern California teammates Pam Chieng and Winnie Chung learned that the hard way Sunday. The pair had looked like genuine contenders, and with other teams losing their way and getting speeding tickets, it looked like they would coast through the second Botswana leg. Then they made a grievous mistake on a seemingly simple Detour. With the Pit Stop just yards away, they had no chance to make amends. The race moves on to Switzerland without them.

“Celebrity Apprentice” (NBC, Sunday) – Ah, Omarosa. What will Piers Morgan do without you? Piers came back to his viceroy chair next to Donald Trump in time to see the Donald fire his archnemesis. Just as well. I don't think I could tolerate any more of the overblown and obviously concocted-for-the-show feud. Not that I can tolerate much about “Celebrity Apprentice.”

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